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Research associate professor salary
Average research associate professor salary
$94,301
Understanding the Research Associate Professor Salary
The Research Associate Professor plays a vital role in higher education, engaging in both research and teaching. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position stands at $94,301 annually. Salaries vary significantly based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific institution. For example, states like California and New York often offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
In addition to base salary, many Research Associate Professors receive benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development. Those in top research universities may also have access to additional funding for projects, enhancing their income potential. The demand for Research Associate Professors is expected to grow, driven by the increasing need for advanced research in various fields. Job seekers should consider both salary and career advancement opportunities when exploring positions in academia.
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Where can a Research Associate Professor earn more?
Research associate professor salary estimates from across the web
Average research associate professor salary by state
The average research associate professor salary in Utah, California, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average research associate professor salary states are Texas, Florida, and Arizona.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for research associate professors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | $152,802 | $73.46 |
| 2 | California | $151,020 | $72.61 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $121,725 | $58.52 |
| 4 | Oregon | $125,012 | $60.10 |
| 5 | Mississippi | $130,204 | $62.60 |
| 6 | Michigan | $120,275 | $57.82 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $122,949 | $59.11 |
| 8 | New York | $132,615 | $63.76 |
| 9 | Alaska | $142,282 | $68.40 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $117,374 | $56.43 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $117,922 | $56.69 |
| 12 | Indiana | $115,000 | $55.29 |
| 13 | Vermont | $107,805 | $51.83 |
| 14 | Maine | $109,275 | $52.54 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $101,983 | $49.03 |
| 16 | Delaware | $117,035 | $56.27 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $109,682 | $52.73 |
| 18 | Nevada | $120,667 | $58.01 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $108,655 | $52.24 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $109,771 | $52.77 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $114,651 | $55.12 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $108,699 | $52.26 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $98,806 | $47.50 |
| 24 | Washington | $111,860 | $53.78 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $99,378 | $47.78 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $96,727 | $46.50 |
| 27 | Colorado | $95,465 | $45.90 |
| 28 | Iowa | $103,053 | $49.54 |
| 29 | Kansas | $101,874 | $48.98 |
| 30 | Illinois | $99,241 | $47.71 |
| 31 | Idaho | $103,096 | $49.57 |
| 32 | Maryland | $112,162 | $53.92 |
| 33 | Georgia | $102,085 | $49.08 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $88,396 | $42.50 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $97,041 | $46.65 |
| 36 | Ohio | $95,276 | $45.81 |
| 37 | Missouri | $92,911 | $44.67 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $92,150 | $44.30 |
| 39 | Virginia | $87,968 | $42.29 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $79,141 | $38.05 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $89,239 | $42.90 |
| 42 | Alabama | $93,784 | $45.09 |
| 43 | Texas | $77,374 | $37.20 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $89,974 | $43.26 |
| 45 | Montana | $80,970 | $38.93 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $83,587 | $40.19 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $74,596 | $35.86 |
| 48 | Florida | $76,428 | $36.74 |
| 49 | Arizona | $74,685 | $35.91 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $67,849 | $32.62 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $68,871 | $33.11 |
Highest paying cities for research associate professors
The highest-paying cities for research associate professors are Salt Lake City, UT, Los Angeles, CA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt Lake City, UT | $154,967 | $74.50 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $151,381 | $72.78 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $135,015 | $64.91 |
| 4 | Fairbanks, AK | $132,864 | $63.88 |
| 5 | Corvallis, OR | $125,942 | $60.55 |
| 6 | Amherst, MA | $124,794 | $60.00 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $123,135 | $59.20 |
| 8 | Ann Arbor, MI | $120,664 | $58.01 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $119,775 | $57.58 |
| 10 | Newark, DE | $118,062 | $56.76 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $115,105 | $55.34 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $112,495 | $54.08 |
| 13 | College Park, MD | $112,036 | $53.86 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $111,643 | $53.67 |
| 15 | Morgantown, WV | $104,841 | $50.40 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $103,015 | $49.53 |
| 17 | Kansas City, KS | $101,786 | $48.94 |
| 18 | Newark, NJ | $99,952 | $48.05 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $99,754 | $47.96 |
| 20 | Philadelphia, PA | $96,897 | $46.59 |
Research associate professor salary details
A research associate professor's salary ranges from $58,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $151,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a research associate professor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $151,000 | $12,583 | $73 |
| 75th Percentile | $120,000 | $10,000 | $58 |
| Average | $94,301 | $7,858 | $45 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| 10th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
Highest paying research associate professor jobs
The highest paying types of research associate professors are professor, visiting professor, and associate professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science Faculty Member | $70,683 | $5,890 | $33.98 | 30,806 |
| Adjunct Biology Instructor | $86,786 | $7,232 | $41.72 | 38,331 |
| Biology Instructor | $58,811 | $4,901 | $28.27 | 37,540 |
| Graduate Research Student | $34,658 | $2,888 | $16.66 | 58,921 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Professor | $157,570 | $13,131 | $75.75 | 21,861 |
Top companies hiring research associate professors now:
Which companies pay research associate professors the most?
Research associate professor salaries at University of Massachusetts Medical School and University of Washington are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research associate professor salary at companies like Duke University Health System and University of Maryland, Baltimore are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Massachusetts Medical School | $175,835 | $84.54 |
| 2 | University of Washington | $166,345 | $79.97 |
| 3 | Duke University Health System | $163,658 | $78.68 |
| 4 | University of Maryland, Baltimore | $157,019 | $75.49 |
| 5 | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | $150,535 | $72.37 |
| 6 | Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | $149,846 | $72.04 |
| 7 | The University of Kansas Health System | $148,763 | $71.52 |
| 8 | UT Health East Texas | $147,808 | $71.06 |
| 9 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $146,816 | $70.58 |
| 10 | The George Washington University | $136,017 | $65.39 |
| 11 | Emory University | $132,688 | $63.79 |
| 12 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $126,834 | $60.98 |
| 13 | Lankenau Institute for Medical Research | $124,562 | $59.89 |
| 14 | University of Southern California | $124,538 | $59.87 |
| 15 | UMiami Health System | $123,048 | $59.16 |
| 16 | Boston College | $122,802 | $59.04 |
| 17 | The University of Chicago | $121,751 | $58.53 |
| 18 | WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | $120,004 | $57.69 |
| 19 | University of Rochester | $119,876 | $57.63 |
| 20 | Northeastern University | $119,499 | $57.45 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Research associate professor salary trends
The average research associate professor salary has risen by $12,658 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research associate professor earned $81,643 annually, but today, they earn $94,301 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for research associate professors over the last decade.
Compare research associate professor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average research associate professor salary over time
Compare research associate professor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Research associate professor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $94,300 | $45.34 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $91,800 | $44.12 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $90,900 | $43.72 | +5.2% |
| 2022 | $86,200 | $41.44 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $84,400 | $40.60 | +1.7% |
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